Dear Dharma Masters,​I have recently finished a PhD in engineering and have been involved in a startup company to commercialize my research. Unfortunately, this is a medical product and requires animal testing to get approved. ​I will not be directly involved in these experiments but the thought of it still causes me stress. Right now, we are still in the early stages and have not started any animal work yet.

Previously I went to CTTB (once to attend GuanYin dharma session) and once a year I will also go to the Guan Yin Sagely temple in Kuala Lumpur (DRBA branch).What type of help should I ask ?​In CTTB, there is a plague offering to remove past creditor debt and Karma. Will that help ? How should I do it ?

Firstly I am not imposing my belief on my loves one. They are Buddhist originally. Especially my mother but with a lot of superstitious add in.

Yes, I am trying to dedicate my daily practise to her such that she can be reborn in pureland. But is difficult for her to change her bad habits. Currently she is doing her morning pureland prayer and recite the Ksitigarbha sutra.

I have great affinities to Master Hsuan Hua teaching whereby when I first started to read his book, I have never stop since then. ​​I am now a vegetarian, taken my 3 refuges and 5 precepts. I am reciting Shurangama mantra daily and GPM 108x daily.​I have read about how important it is to repay our parents debt and to show filial respect to our parents. I have thus fetch my mother to stay my family. With my intention of teaching dharma to my mother and taken her to take 3 refuges.

I a 25-year old who feels rather lost. In the past, I followed my older sister to the temple to eat vegetarian meals and listen to the Dharma lectures.

I would like to leave the home life and take refuge under a master in order to learn the proper principles and develop skills to help others. I feel abandoned because my mother has her own separate family as does my father. I feel like an outcast living on the fringe of society.

Could you please tell me which temple I should go to practice and learn?​THN

Since doctors cure illness, do they interfere with their patients’ retributions? If so, are there any adverse consequences? ​​My life is at a crossroad now. I am not sure whether or not to go into medicine as a profession. While I would like to be able to help others, I am also concerned that it might have adverse effects on my cultivation. I asked many people about it and I was told that there are no adverse retributions because there is no interfering with others’ retributions. ​

We already have two children but my husband still prefers to spend time with his friends, drinking among other things. I want to convince my husband to walk the Buddha path with me but am not sure what I should do. ​

I often recite the Buddha’s name and repent, hoping that my husband will quickly change his ways. I also pray that the Buddha will awaken my husband: but is it too greedy of my part?

1. If a lay Buddhist disciple masturbates, is that a Precept violation? Is that repentable? Is masturbation a violation of the Deviant Sex Precept?​2. When I recite sutras, I still have a lot of false-thinking and that makes me very afflicted. Am I creating offenses because I cannot control my thoughts?

Please kindly instruct me so that I can better understand Precepts.​Emituofo,

Ven. Master,​My name is HG. My Dharma name is TA. I have a daughter who came to the US in 1991 when she was 12 years old. Now she is a pharmacist who is talented but lacks virtue. She is more preoccupied with benefitting herself than helping others. She does not believe in the Buddha nor Cause and Effect. ​

Greetings to you, Master! I have a few questions.​In the Universal Chapter [of the Lotus Sutra], Shakyamuni Buddha says that those who recite GuanYin’s name will be able to eliminate greed, hatred and stupidity… Therefore, how should I go about reciting her name in order to achieve those objectives? I am not particularly worried about hatred and stupidity, however, my sexual desires are particularly strong.

Question:​I started reciting Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s name two weeks ago. I try to be single-minded in my recitation in the four comportments of sitting, walking, lying or standing just like Amitabha Buddha. Late at night, I use the recitation beads for over thirty minutes. I can concentrate pretty well on the Bodhisattva’s name even though I worship Medicine Master Buddha. In the morning, I recite the Medicine Master Mantra while at night I recite Guan Yin. Is this appropriate, Master?

I am faced with a very serious conflict. My dad is a believer of the Cao Đài faith, while my mom is Buddhist.​When I was young, I used to come to a Cao Đài temple to make contributions. Occasionally, I would also follow my mother to the temple to bow to the Buddhas.

Question:​I am a 21 year old student. I have studied Buddhism for half a year so far. Since I understand Buddhism, I realize that I have created so many offenses… For example, I liked to kill living beings when I was young… When I was 14 years old (I was in the seventh grade), through the TV programs I saw many sexy images and naturally wanted to see more of such images.

Greetings!!!​I am 21 years old and I am confused. These days, I feel that the Buddha’s way places are the only safe places for me. I am not sure what kinds of tests I must undergo this lifetime, but many times people make a fool out of me. Even the people from overseas also target me.

Ven. Master:​I became a newly minted Buddhist disciple a few months ago. My parents and husband are good people but do not believe in the Buddha. After I took refuge with the Triple Jewel, I started encountering obstructions from my family. My husband would often take issue about the Buddha with me.

I am a Pure Land Buddhist practitioner. Yesterday, I met with another Buddhist who practices Secret School who gave me a pendant that has a silver globe with a long string with some kind of mantra, telling me that my young child (who is 2.5 years old) owes the Triple Jewel from past lives.

Master, please help me with the following:​1. You explained that “everyone insists on being right”. Then when we are right and others are wrong, what should we do? If they are in the wrong and if we don’t prove it to them, then aren’t they continuing to err? How should I behave in those circumstances? Usually, people try to explain once to those who are wrong and then give up if they don’t get it. Personally, I’d try to explain once or twice before I remain silent and let them decide for themselves. Is that OK?

Before allowing people to leave the home life, do you check their family situation? Does the family agree with her? Is the husband able to support the family? What if they can’t support the children’s tuition and fees, mortgage payments, or car payments? The children cry because they miss their mother. The husband suffers so much. Can one thus attain the fruition? Please answer in a straightforward manner.​TH